O'Driscoll says Tri-Nations will be true gauge of ABs

Injured Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll believes no team in the world could have withstood the All Blacks in the form they showed over the first two tests.

But he said judgment on whether New Zealand had taken the game to a new level should wait for a month or two.

"You'll probably know after the Tri-Nations.

"Australia and South Africa will have something to say about what sort of standards are being set."

Nevertheless, O'Driscoll applauded the clinical nature of New Zealand's passage to an unbeatable 2-0 lead, especially in their 48-18 win in the second test in Wellington on Saturday.

"I do think it's an excellent brand of rugby and they're really enjoying it, you can see it in their faces," he said.

"I don't think any side in the world, playing well, would have been able to live with them."

O'Driscoll was also guarded about whether the All Blacks' expansive style might lead to a review of Northern Hemisphere rugby, saying it was a case of "horses for courses".

He said the present squad under coach Graham Henry had a lot of players who were on top of their game and he would watch with interest how the All Blacks developed over the coming year.

"But I do think as well that different teams play different styles because it suits their makeup," he said.

"You can't play an All Black style if your forwards don't have the handling skills or your backs don't have the power and pace that the All Blacks have.

"So it's horses for courses. You have to play the way that suits your side."

The Irish centre, who faces surgery and a recovery period of three to five months, said the frustration of being sidelined would be his most abiding memory of his second Lions tour.

"Not being able to give it my all is probably the one thing that stands out in my mind."

- NZPA